LORENZO (NHB Modern Plays)

When Ben Targét was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2012 Edinburgh Comedy Awards, he was set on the path to becoming a critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning performance artist.

Eight years later, amidst a global pandemic, he gave it all up to become the live-in carer for his uncle: an irascible octogenarian prankster called Lorenzo Wong.

LORENZO is their story, a show that confronts the messiness of ageing and dying through the medium of storytelling, servitude to the audience and live carpentry, a combination not seen on the world stage since Nazareth circa 30AD.

This book is the full script of that life-affirming show, with illustrations by Targét himself. It was directed by Adam Brace, and was premiered at Summerhall, Edinburgh, during the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it was awarded a Fringe First. It subsequently transferred to Soho Theatre, London.

'A beautiful and wise work' – Time Out

'Very lovely… a joyful and philosophical show… a heartfelt hour about tough times and the people who quietly help us survive them' – Guardian

'An exploration of the sorts of things that give life meaning… completely engaging… very funny and very moving… a life-affirming tale that is warm and whimsical, but fundamentally all about human connection' – WhatsOnStage

'A moving and courageous piece of theatre' – The Scotsman

'The ultimate celebration of life. I've never laughed and cried so much at the same show' – Everything Theatre

'A joyous celebration of what it means to love deeply' – Fest Mag

'A deeply affecting, tender and funny story of love and loss' – The List